Action in The Skies For The Thunder Over The Blue Ridge Air Show
By: Ananda Rochita
Updated: September 15, 2012
MARTINSBURG, WV - It's the feeling of going hundreds of miles an hour and weightless free falling that got pilot Jerry Wells hooked.
"I just enjoy it it's total freedom," says Wells.
Wells will be one of the performers flying in the Thunder Over The Blue Ridge Air Show. The 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia National Guard has put together the largest air show ever in the Eastern Panhandle with about 40 to 50,000 people attending.
Wells enjoys flying all year around, but he knows that at anytime the inevitable can happen.
"It's always in the back of your mind," says Wells.
During last year's show, John Mangan, a pilot, was killed when performing a stunt when his plane went down.
"We decided to do a show this year and the show this year is going to be in part and in honor of the pilot who flew last year in the accident," says Nic Diehl, Thunder Over The Blue Ridge.
Safety is an important issue when organizing the show. They have designated areas where people aren't allowed to make sure the audience is safe.
The airshow starts Saturday, September 15th at 9 a.m. and continues all weekend.
"I just enjoy it it's total freedom," says Wells.
Wells will be one of the performers flying in the Thunder Over The Blue Ridge Air Show. The 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia National Guard has put together the largest air show ever in the Eastern Panhandle with about 40 to 50,000 people attending.
Wells enjoys flying all year around, but he knows that at anytime the inevitable can happen.
"It's always in the back of your mind," says Wells.
During last year's show, John Mangan, a pilot, was killed when performing a stunt when his plane went down.
"We decided to do a show this year and the show this year is going to be in part and in honor of the pilot who flew last year in the accident," says Nic Diehl, Thunder Over The Blue Ridge.
Safety is an important issue when organizing the show. They have designated areas where people aren't allowed to make sure the audience is safe.
The airshow starts Saturday, September 15th at 9 a.m. and continues all weekend.
